Railway car



W. E. WINE RAILWAY CAR May 23, 1933.

Filed Aug. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. E. WINE May 23, 1933.

RAILWAY CAR Filed Aug. 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT osieE WILLIAM E. WINE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO RAILWAY GAR Application led August 28, 1929.

My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to improvements in the lading discharge doors thereof.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide rugged and simple means for reinforcing and stiffening the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide the door stiffening member with means adapted to resist the torsional moments set l0 up therein due to its engagement with mechanism for supporting the door in closed position.

A primary feature of the invention resides in constructing the door stiffener with a plurality of spaced flanges and an intermediate connecting web, the latter being disposed in a plane substantially normal to the door, one end of said stiffener being provided with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body and the other end thereof being provided with means for cooperating with mechanism to support the door in closed position.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the door arm with a portion adapted to be secured to the door and with a portion adapted to proj ect beyond a side edge of the latter, one of said portions being of substantially I-shape and the other being of substantially channel shape.

A further feature of the invention consists in associating with the hinged door of a railway car a member adapted to cooperate with mechanism carried by the car body for supporting the door in closed position, means being integrally united to said member for attaching it to a marginal flange of the door.

A still further feature of the invention consists in providing the door stiffener with 49 a depending portion disposed substantially normal to the door, said member being offset intermediate its ends to project outwardly beyond a side edge of the door beneath a marginal flange with which the latter is provided, the depending portion of the member adjacent the offset in the stiifener being disposed at an angle to the hinge axis of the door.

Other and more specific features of the invention residing in advantageous forms and Serial No. 389,015.

combination and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of a gondola car, showing the invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the construction illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure l.

Figure l is a plan view of the door still'- ener.

Figur-e 5 is an end view of the stiffener.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6, Figure 4.

For purposes of illustrating the invention a gondola car of the all-steel type has been illustrated but it will be understood as the specification proceeds that the invention is not limited in its application. to cars of this type. Furthermore, since the construction of the stiffeners applied to each door of the car is the same, only one door andthe portion of the car construction immediately adjoining it has been illustrated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 indicates one of the car center sills and 2 one of the side sills thereof, the latter preferably being of angle shape having a substantially vertical leg or flange 3 and a substantially horizontal flange or leg A. These sills of the car are preferably connected by a plurality of suitably spaced cross-bearers 5. The sides of the car may be conveniently formed of a plurality of sheet metal plates 6 and the car side stakes 7, which may be of any suitable construction, yare preferably secured to the outer faces of these sheets.

The floor of the car may be conveniently formed by a longitudinally extending plate 8 overlying and projecting on opposite sidesof the center sill and by transversely extending plates 9 which pass over the plate 8 and may extend from one side of the car to the other. The plate 8 is preferably secured in place by rivets l0 which pass through the flanges 11 with which the center sills are provided and the plates 9 may be advantageously secured by rivets 12 to adjacent portions of the respective cross-bearers 5. At their outer ends the transversely extending plates 9 preferably overlap the upper face of the horizontal leg 4 of the side sill, being secured thereto by rivets 13. Tt will thus be perceived that the plates 8 and 9 together with the horizontally disposed flange 4 of the side sill define openings through which lading in the car may be discharged.

Associated with each of the lading discharge openings is a door 14, which is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with downwardly projecting reinforcing marginal flanges 15. The door may also, if desired, be reinforced by longitudinally extending corrugations 16. Along its inner edge the door is hingedly connected to the car body in a manner to be hereinafter described, the hinge axis thereof extending longitudinally of the car.

Secured on the underside of the door are a plurality of stiffening members 17. Intermediate its ends each door stiffener is offset, as at 18, to project outwardly beyond the edge of the door remote from the hinge axis thereof beneath the marginal flange with which that edge of the door is formed. Each door stiffener is fashioned with a top flange 19 adapted to contact with the undersurface of the door. At the offset portion 18 this flange inclines, as at 20, and terminates in a flange 21 which is disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the flange 19. 1t will be appreciated that the flanges 19 and 21 and the inclined portion 2O together form one substantially continuously extending flange. The portion of the flange 19 adjacent the hinge edge of the door is formed with oppositely projecting integral extensions 22, each of which is formed with an aperture for receiving a rivet 23 for connecting the stiffener, at this point, to the door. The flange 19 is also formed with a plurality of apertures 24 for receiving rivets 25 to rigidly connect other portions of the stiflener to the door. Adjacent the rivet receiving apertures 24 the flange may be of somewhat increased width so that the apertures will not weaken the flange at these points.

Depending from all portions of the top flange of the stilfener is a substantially continuously extending web or portion 26 which is adapted to be disposed in a plane substantially normal to the door. This web is arranged so that the flange 19 projects from opposite sides thereof while the flange 21 projects only from one side thereof. For this purpose the portion of the web adjacent the offset 18 inclines, as at 27, with respect to the portions thereof underlying the flanges 19 and 21. Thus it will be seen that since the portions of the web underlying the flanges 19 and 21 are disposed in a plane substantially normal to the hinge axis of the door the portion 27 of the web is disposed in a plane forming an oblique angle therewith.

The lower edge of the depending web 26 may advantageously be formed with a marginal flange 28 spaced from and substantially parallel with corresponding portions of the top flange of the stiflener. As may be clearly seen from the drawings this lower marginal flange 28 is not as wideas the top flangeV and it is arranged so that portions thereof underlying the flange 19 and adjacent the inclined portion 27 of the web project -on opposite sides of the web while the portion thereof underlying the flange 21 only projects from one side of the web and in the same direction asthe flange 21. Tt will thus be perceived that the portion of the stiffener on one side of its offs-et and underlying the d-oor is of Asubstantially -shape while the portion of the stiffener on the other side of the offset and projecting outwardly beyond the door is of substantially channel-shape.

At their outer ends the flanges 21 and 28 may he conveniently tied tog-ether by an end wall 29. At its opposite end the stiffener is provided with an end wall 30 and in order to rigidly tie this wall to the lower flange 28 the latter is preferably flared, as at 31. Furthermore as shown in Figure 6 the side edges of this end wall diverge upwardly from the lower flange 28 to the outer end yof the extensions 22 of the top flange 19.

In order to hingedly connect the door to the car body the inner end of the stiener is provided with a pair of lugs 32 which may advantageously be integrally formed with the end wall 30. The lugs are provided with registering apertures to receive a hinge pin 33 carried by a hinge bracket 34 which may be conveniently rigidly secured to th-e adjacent center sill 1.

The flange 21 of the stiener is adapted to cooperate with a pivotally mounted hook 35 which forms a part of the door supporting mechanism 36 carried by the car body. Tn order to resist the torsional mom-ents induced in the outer end of the door stiffener due to its cooperation with the pivotally mounted hook the stifi'ener is provided with an upwardly projecting portion or flange 37 for attachment to the adjacent marginal flange of the door. This flange 37 which may advantageously be integrally formed with the stifiener is wider thanY the top flange 21 thereof so that a plurality of rivets 38 may he employed for attaching it to the door flange, but the portion of the flange 21 imme diately adjoining the flange 37 is preferably flared or tapered, as at 39, to rigidly brace the latter. The flange may also be additionally reinforced by ribs or gussets 40 which extend between it and the top of flange 21 and a gusset 41 which extends between it and the web26.

As difficulty is often experienced in forcing doors of this type to a fully closed position the stiffener may be integrally formed with a pocket l2 adapted to receive a removable door prying lever (not shown). This lever may be inserted in the pocket an-d bear against the lower edge of the side marginal flange of the door whereby sufficient leverage may be obtained tol pry the door to fully closed position.

From the drawings it will be noticed that th-e door illustrated is provided with two stiffening members 17 respectively mounted adjacent the sides thereof and that a cooperating door supporting mechanism is provided for each. In this manner the door may be more firmly supported and secured in closed position than if it was provided with only one stiffener as the doors of gondola cars, the type chosen for illustrating the invention, are comparatively wide.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that while the door stiffener is simply formed it adequately serves to reinforce the door and to cooperate with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body and for supporting it in closed position. It will also be seen that means is provided for resisting the torsional moments to which the stiffener is subjected due to its cooperation with the door supporting mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, of a door stiffener having a plurality of spaced flanges anda connecting web, the latter being disposed 1n a plane substantially normal to the door and one of said anges being secured to the door, one end of said stiener being provided with means` for pivotally connecting the door to the car body and the other end thereof being provided with means for cooperating with mechanism to support the door in closed position.

2. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, of a stiener for the door having a plurality of spaced flanges and a web connecting said flanges, the latter being disposed in a plane substantially normal to the door, one of said flanges being wider than the other of said flanges and the widest one being secured to the door, one end of said stiffener being provided with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body and the other end thereof being provided with means for cooperating with mechanismV to support the door in closed position.

3. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, of a stiffener for the door having a plurality of spaced substantially parallel flanges, one of which contacts with the door, said flanges being connected by a web disposed in a plane substantially normal to the door, the door contacting flange of the sti'ffener adjacent one of its ends being formed with extensions to receive means adapted to attach the stiffener to the door, one end of said stilfener being provided with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body.

'4. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, of a stiffening member for the door, said stiftening member being disposed substantially normal to the hinge axis of the door and having a portion secured to the underside of the door and a portion projecting outwardly beyond one of its edges, the portion of the member secured to the door being of substantially I-shape and the projecting portion thereof being of substantially channel shape.

5. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, of a stiffening member for the door arranged substantially normal to the hinge aXis thereof, said member having a portion secured to the door and a portion projecting outwardly beyond one of its edges, the portion of the inember secured to the door having a portion sub stantially normal to the door and a flange projecting on opposite sides thereof, the por tion projecting beyond the edge of the door having a top flange and a portion depending from one of the marginal edges of said flange.

6. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, said door being provided with marginal flanges, of a stiffening member secured to the door, said member being offset intermediate its ends and projecting outwardly beyond a side edge of the door beneath the adjacent marginal flange thereof, the portion of the member on one side of said offset being of substantially channel shape and the portion on the other side of said offset being of substantially I-shape.

7. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, said door being provided with marginal flanges, of a stiffening member secured to the door, said member being offset intermediate its ends and projecting outwardly beyond an edge of the door beneath the adjacent marginal flange of the latter, the portion of said stif'fener on one side of said offset having a portion depending from the door and a flange projecting on opposite sides thereof, the portion of said stiifener on the other side of said offset having a top flange and a portion depending from one of the marginal edges of said ange.

8. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, said door being provided with marginal' flanges, of a stiffening member secured to the door, said member having a top flange and a portion depending therefrom substantially normal to the door, said member being offset intermediate its ends and projecting outwardly beyond a side edge of the door beneath the adjacent marginal flange of the latter, the depending portion of the stiffener adjacent the odset thereof being disposed in a plane forming anoblique angle with the hinge aXis of the door.

9. ln a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door hingcdly connected to the car for closing said opening, said door being provided with marginal flanges, of an arm secured to the door and having a portion projecting outwardly beyond one of its side edges beneath the adjacent flange of the latter, said projecting portion of the arm being adapted to cooperate with mechanism for supporting the door in closed position, said arm being integrally formed with an upstanding portion for attachment to the said marginal flange of the door.

10. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door hingedly connected to the car for closing said opening, said door being provided with marginal flanges, of an arm rigidly secured to the door and projecting outwardly beyond one of its side edges beneath the marginal flange of the latter, said projecting portion of the arm having a top flange adapted to be engaged by mechanism for supporting the door in closed position, means rigidly united to said arm for attaching it to the said marginal Hange of the door, and means forreinforcing said marginal flange attaching means.

11. In a railway car of the gondola type having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, of a stiffener for the door, one end of said stiffener being integrally formed with shaped lugs for pivotallyconnecting the door to the car body and the other end thereof being integrally formed with a. downwardly offset portion projecting beyond the free edge of the door for cooperating with mechanism for supporting the door in closed position.

12. 1n a railway car of the gondola type having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door having marginal flanges for closing said opening, of a stiffening member secured to the door, o-ne end of said member being integrally formed with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body, the other end thereof being integrally formed with a downwardly offset portion projecting beyond the free edge of the door for cooperating with mechanism to support the door in closed position, said offset portion being integrally formed with an upstanding member rigidly secured to the adjacent marginal flange of the door.

13. In a railway car of the gondola type having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a do-or having marginal flanges for closing said opening, of a stiening member for the door, one end of said member being integrally formed with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body, said member being offset intermediate its ends and projecting outwardly beyond a side edge of the door beneath a marginal flange of the latter, the outwardly projecting portion of the member being adapted to cooperate with mechanism for supporting the door in closed position, and means rigidly united to the member adjacent the offset thereof for connecting it to the said marginal flange of the door.

14. An integrally formed stiffener for doors of railway cars having marginal flanges, one end of said stiffener being integrally formed with means adapted to pivotally connect the door to the car and the other end of said member being offset downwardly to extend beneath and outwardly of the adjacent marginal flange of the door to cooperate with means for supporting the door in closed position, said member having an upstanding plate-like portion adjacent said offset adapted to be secured to the adjacent marginal flange of the door.

15. An integrally formed stiening member for doors of railway cars of the type having marginal flanges, said member being offset intermediate its ends to project on opposite sides of a marginal flange of the door, the portion of the member on one side of the offset being of substantially l-shape and the portion thereof on the other side of the olfset being of substantially channel shape, and one end of the member being provided with means for pivotally connecting the door to the car body.

16. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, of a member for stiffening the door, said member being provided adjacent one end with a flange disposed in a plane substantially normal to the door and parallel with the hinge axis thereof, said flange being integrally formed with lugs adapted to cooperate with l means Afor pivotally connecting the door to the car body.

17. ln a railway car having a lading' dis` charge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing said opening, of a stiffening member having a flange rigidly secured to the underside of the door, said flange terminating in a downwardly extending portion integrally formed with spaced lugs adapted to cooperate with means for vSi) pivotally Connecting the door to the car body.

18. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, said door being provided with a marginal reinforcing flange, of a stiffening member extending at an angle to said marginal flange and having a flange rigidly secured to the door, said member being integrally formed with a plate-like portion rigidly secured to said marginal flange, said plate-like portion being normal to and being of greater width gaan the said flange of the stiffening mem- 19. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, said door being provided with a marginal reinforcing flange, of a stiening member having a flange parallel to the main body portion of the door and having a plate-like portion substantially normal thereto, said plate-like portion being rigidly secured to the marginal flange of the door and being integrally formed with the flange of the stifl'ening member, said last-named flange being enlarged adjacent said plate-like portion for rigidifying the latter.

20. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a door for closing said opening, said door being provided with a marginal reinforcing flange, of a stifening member having a flange parallel to the main body portion of the door and having a longitudinally extending portion depending from said flange, said member being integrally formed with a platelike portion rigidly secured to the marginal flange of the door, said plate-like portion projecting upwardly from the flange of the stiifening member and the latter being reinforced by a flange formed integrally with the longitudinally extending portion of said member.

2l. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing the opening, of a stiffening member for the door extending at an angle to the hinge axis thereof, said member being integrally formed with laterally projecting extensions overlapping the outer face of the main body portion of the door adjacent its hinged edge and each of said extensions having a portion rigidly secured to said body portion.

22. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing the opening, of a stiening member for the door extending at an angle to the hinge axis thereof, said stiffening member having oppositely disosed laterally projecting extensions adjacent the hinged edge of the door, each of said extensions being angularly shaped and having a flange rigidly secured to the door.

23. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing the opening, of a stilfening member for the door extending at an angle to the hinge axis thereof, said stiening member being integrally formed with oppositely disposed laterally projecting portions, each of said portions being provided with a flange rigidly secured to the main body portion of the door adjacent its hinged edge and being also provided with a flange depending from the main body portion of the door, and means formed integrally with said last-named flange to cooperate with means for hingedly connecting the door to the car.

24. In a railway car having a lading discharge opening, the combination with a hinged door for closing the opening, of a stiffening member for the door extending at an angle to the hinge axis thereof, said stiffening member being integrally formed with laterally extending portions rigidly secured to the door adjacent its hinged and free edges.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

WILLIAM E. WINE.

CCI 

